Radiator and electronic apparatus having coolant pathway

ABSTRACT

A radiator includes a core unit, which includes a flow inlet which coolant enters, a flow outlet from which the coolant exits, a plurality of coolant pathways including at least an outer coolant pathway, an inner coolant pathway, a branching point, and a merging point, the outer coolant pathway being disposed to surround the inner coolant pathway, the coolant being divided at the branching point and merging at the merging point, and a connecting pathway to connect between the merging point of the outer coolant pathway and the branching point of the inner coolant pathway, wherein the flow inlet is in communication with a branching point of an outermost one of the plurality of coolant pathways, and the flow output is in communication with a merging point of an innermost one of the plurality of coolant pathways.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-196732 filed on Sep. 2, 2010, with the Japanese Patent Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The disclosures herein relate to a radiator and an electronic apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Electronic apparatuses such as personal computers and workstations include electronic components such as a central processing unit (i.e., CPU) that generates heat. Electronic apparatuses are provided with a cooling unit for absorbing heat generated by electronic components.

In a cooling unit that circulates coolant to absorb heat generated by electronic components, the coolant having an increased temperature by absorbing the heat is cooled by a radiator. For example, a heat exchanger may include a flat tube having a planar spiral shape such that adjacent tube sections are spaced at constant intervals, and coolant flows from the center to the perimeter.

A fan may be provided at the core section of a radiator, and generates an air current to cool coolant flowing in the core section. In such a case, the distribution of air current speed is not even. When the distribution of speed of air currents flowing toward the core section is not taken into account, the cooling efficiency of a fan is not sufficiently high.

RELATED-ART DOCUMENTS Patent Document

-   [Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No.     2005-214545

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the embodiment, a radiator includes a core unit, which includes a flow inlet which coolant enters, a flow outlet from which the coolant exits, a plurality of coolant pathways including at least an outer coolant pathway, an inner coolant pathway, a branching point, and a merging point, the outer coolant pathway being disposed to surround the inner coolant pathway, the coolant being divided at the branching point and merging at the merging point, and a connecting pathway to connect between the merging point of the outer coolant pathway and the branching point of the inner coolant pathway, wherein the flow inlet is in communication with a branching point of an outermost one of the plurality of coolant pathways, and the flow output is in communication with a merging point of an innermost one of the plurality of coolant pathways.

According to another aspect of the embodiment, a radiator includes a core unit, which includes a flow inlet which coolant enters, a flow outlet from which the coolant exits, and a spiral-shape coolant pathway through which the coolant flows, wherein the flow inlet is in communication with an outer end of the coolant pathway, and the flow outlet is in communication with an inner end of the coolant pathway.

The object and advantages of the embodiment will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating an example of the internal structure of a personal computer according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating an example of the configuration of a liquid cooling unit according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an example of a radiator according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example of an axial flow fan according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an example of a core unit according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a first variation of the radiator;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second variation of the radiator;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third variation of the radiator; and

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an example of a core unit according to the second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

By referring to FIG. 1, a description will be first given of a personal computer 100 which is an example of an electronic apparatus. FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating an example of the internal structure of the personal computer 100 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the personal computer 100 includes an electronic component 110 and a liquid cooling unit 120.

The electronic component 110 may be an LSI (large scale integration) circuit, for example. The electronic component 110 such as an LSI circuit has a CPU (central processing unit) chip implemented therein. The CPU chip performs predetermined computations by executing an OS (operating system) and application programs. As the CPU chip performs computations, the electronic component 110 such as an LSI circuit generates heat.

The personal computer 100 is provided with the liquid cooling unit 120 for absorbing heat generated by the electronic component 110.

In addition to the electronic component 110 and the liquid cooling unit 120, the personal computer 100 includes a hard-disk drive, a DVD (digital versatile disk) drive, a card unit, and the like. The hard-disk drive stores the OS and application programs described above, for example. The DVD drive reads data from a recording medium such as a DVD, and writes data to a recording medium such as a DVD. The card unit receives a memory card, a LAN (local area network) card, or the like inserted thereinto.

The liquid cooling unit 120 of the present embodiment will now be described by referring to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating an example of the liquid cooling unit 120. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the liquid cooling unit 120 includes a pump 122, a heat receiving unit 124, and a radiator 130. The members constituting the liquid cooling unit 120 are connected through a plurality of hoses 126 to form a circulation pathway. Coolant flowing through this circulation pathway releases heat generated by the electronic component 110 to outside the personal computer 100. The coolant may be an antifreeze liquid of propylene glycol series, for example.

The pump 122 is situated downstream relative to the radiator 130. The pump 122 delivers the coolant to generate coolant flow inside the circulation pathway. Specifically, the pump 122 generates a coolant flow in the direction illustrated by arrows in FIG. 2. The pump 122 may be a piezoelectric pump.

The heat receiving unit 124 is situated downstream relative to the pump 122. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the heat receiving unit 124 is disposed on the electronic component 110 that generates heat. The heat receiving unit 124 absorbs heat generated by the electronic component 110.

The radiator 130 is situated downstream relative to the heat receiving unit 124. The radiator 130 takes heat from the coolant flowing into the radiator 130. The radiator 130 is situated in the proximity of an exhaust opening that is formed at a lateral side of the case of the personal computer 100. The radiator 130 includes an axial flow fan 140 and a core unit 150. The axial flow fan 140 generates an air current that goes outside trough the exhaust opening. With this arrangement, heat that the radiator 130 has taken from the coolant is released to outside the personal computer 100 through the exhaust opening. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, there are two axial flow fans 140 and two core units 150. The detailed configuration of the radiator 130 will be described later.

In the liquid cooling unit 120, the circulation pathway as described above is formed.

In the following, the configuration of the radiator 130 of the present embodiment will be described by referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5. There are two axial flow fans 140 and two core units 150 illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 through FIG. 5, however, illustrate one axial flow fan 140 and one core unit 150. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an example of the radiator 130 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, the axial flow fan 140 is simplified and illustrated in dotted lines. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example of the axial flow fan 140. FIG. 5 is a plan view of an example of the core unit 150. The arrows illustrated in FIG. 5 indicate coolant flows.

A description will first be given of the structure of the axial flow fan 140 of the present embodiment by referring to FIG. 4. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the axial flow fan 140 includes a plurality of blades 142. The plurality of blades 142 rotate around a rotation axis 144. As the plurality of blades 142 rotates around the rotation axis 144, an air current is generated to flow from the rear side of the axial flow fan 140 to the front side thereof.

In the vicinity of the rotation axis 144 of the axial flow fan 140, the blades 142 are not in existence, so that an air current is not prominently present. Further, the speed of air currents generated by the rotation of the blades 142 is generally not even in the area where the blades 142 of the axial flow fan 140 are situated. Specifically, the air current speed increases from the rotation axis 144 toward the tips of the blades 142.

A description will be next given of the structure of the core unit 150 of the present embodiment by referring to FIG. 5. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the core unit 150 includes a flow inlet 152, a flow outlet 154, a plurality of coolant pathways 156, connecting pathways 162, and a plurality of heat dissipating fins 164. The core unit 150 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes five coolant pathways 156. The coolant pathways 156 are arranged such that an outer-side coolant pathway 156 surrounds an inner-side coolant pathway 156.

The coolant flows into the core unit 150 through the flow inlet 152. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the coolant flows in a direction perpendicular to the drawing sheet (e.g., downward) to enter the flow inlet 152. The coolant flows out of the core unit 150 through the flow outlet 154. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the coolant flows in a direction perpendicular to the drawing sheet (e.g., upward) upon exiting from the flow outlet 154.

The coolant pathways 156 are disposed to allow the coolant to circulate inside the core unit 150. The shape of the coolant pathways 156 may be rectangular, for example. The shape of the coolant pathways 156 is not limited to a particular shape, and may be any shape as long as it allows the coolant to circulate inside the core unit 150. For example, the shape of the coolant pathways 156 may be circular.

The radiator 150 includes a branching point 158 and a merging point 160. Coolant that flows into the branching point 158 is divided at the branching point 158 to flow in different directions through the coolant pathways 156. The coolant having flown in the different directions merge at the merging point 160. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the branching point 158 and the merging point 160 are respectively situated at the diagonally opposite corners of a rectangular-shape coolant pathway 156.

Between two adjacent coolant pathways 156, a connecting pathway 162 connects between the merging point 160 of an outer-side coolant pathway 156 and the branching point 158 of an inner-side coolant pathway 156. The core unit 150 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes four connecting pathways 162. The coolant having merged at the merging point 160 of an outer-side coolant pathway 156 runs through the connecting pathway 162, and is then divided at the branching point 158 of an inner-side coolant pathway 156.

The heat dissipating fins 164 are disposed between adjacent coolant pathways 156. The heat dissipating fins 164 extend in a direction parallel to the rotation axis 144 of the axial flow fan 140. Heat generated by the electronic component 110 and absorbed by the coolant is transferred to the heat dissipating fins 164 from the coolant flowing through the coolant pathways 156. This heat is then released to outside the personal computer 100 by the air currents generated by the axial flow fan 140.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the flow inlet 152 is in communication with the branching point 158 of the outermost coolant pathway 156 among the plurality of coolant pathways 156. Further, the flow outlet 154 is in communication with the merging point 160 of the innermost coolant pathway 156 among the plurality of coolant pathways 156.

With the arrangement described above, the coolant flowing into the core unit 150 at the flow inlet 152 is divided at the branching point 158 of the outermost coolant pathway 156 to flow in different directions through the outermost coolant pathway 156. The coolant having flown in the different directions merge at the merging point 160 of the outermost coolant pathway 156. The coolant having merged at the merging point 160 of the outermost coolant pathway 156 runs through the connecting pathway 162, and is then divided at the branching point 156 of a next inner coolant pathway 156 to flow in different directions through this next inner coolant pathway 156. After this, coolant merging at the merging point 160 and coolant separating at the branching point 158 are repeated until the coolant flows out of the core unit 150 through the flow outlet 154 after running through the merging point 160 of the innermost coolant pathway 156.

The axial flow fan 140 and the core unit 150 described heretofore are disposed such that the rotation axis 144 of the axial flow fan 140 is aligned with the center area of the core unit 150 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The center area of the core unit 150 refers to an area within the innermost coolant pathway 156. In the radiator 130 of the present embodiment, the coolant pathways 156 are disposed in the core unit 150 such that the coolant flows from the outer area in which air current speed is faster to the inner area in which air current speed is slower. The outer area is at a distance in the radial direction from the rotation axis 144 and the inner area is in the proximity of the rotation axis 144. With this arrangement, the coolant having an increased temperature by absorbing heat from the electronic component 110 first flows through the coolant pathways 156 that are disposed in the outer area of the core unit 150 in which air current speed is faster. This improves the cooling efficiency of coolant. [First Variation]

A first variation of the radiator 130 will be described by referring to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a first variation of the radiator 130. The radiator 130 illustrated in FIG. 6 includes two core units 150 and two axial flow fans 140. The two core units 150 are arranged side by side. The axial flow fans 140 are also arranged side by side to air-cool the respective core units 150. The configurations of the core units 150 and the axial flow fans 140 are the same as or similar to the configurations used in the first embodiment.

The radiator 130 may include three or more core units 150 and three or more axial flow fans 140.

When a relatively large area is available for the radiator 130, this variation may be suitable. According to this variation, coolant having an increased temperature due to the absorption of heat by the heat receiving unit 124 flows through a plurality of core units 150, which further improves the cooling efficiency of coolant.

[Second Variation]

A second variation of the radiator 130 will be described by referring to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second variation of the radiator 130. The radiator 130 illustrated in FIG. 7 includes two core units 150 and one axial flow fan 140. The two core units 150 are arranged in tandem (i.e., arranged one behind the other) in the direction of air flow generated by the axial flow fan 140. The flow inlets 152 of the two core units 150 are in communication with each other. Further, the flow outlet 154 of the two core units 150 are in communication with each other. The configurations of the core units 150 and the axial flow fans 140 are the same as or similar to the configurations used in the first embodiment.

The radiator 130 may include three or more core units 150.

When a relatively small area is available for the radiator 130, this variation may be suitable. According to this variation, coolant having an increased temperature due to the absorption of heat by the heat receiving unit 124 flows through the core units 150 that are arranged in tandem in the direction of air flow generated by the axial flow fan 140. Accordingly, the cooling efficiency of coolant is improved even when only a relatively small area is available for the radiator 130.

[Third Variation]

A third variation of the radiator 130 will be described by referring to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the third variation of the radiator 130. The radiator 130 illustrated in FIG. 8 includes two core units 150 and one axial flow fan 140. The two core units 150 are arranged in tandem (i.e., arranged one behind the other) in the direction of air flow generated by the axial flow fan 140, with the axial flow fan 140 intervening therebetween. The flow inlets 152 of the two core units 150 are in communication with each other. Further, the flow outlet 154 of the two core units 150 are in communication with each other. The configurations of the core units 150 and the axial flow fans 140 are the same as or similar to the configurations used in the first embodiment.

The radiator 130 may include three or more core units 150.

According to this variation, as in the case of the second variation, coolant having an increased temperature due to the absorption of heat by the heat receiving unit 124 flows through the core units 150 that are arranged in tandem in the direction of air flow generated by the axial flow fan 140. Accordingly, the cooling efficiency of coolant is improved even when only a relatively small area is available for the radiator 130.

Second Embodiment

In the following, the radiator 130 of a second embodiment will be described. The radiator 130 of the second embodiment differs from the radiator 130 of the first embodiment in the configuration of the core unit 150. The remaining configurations are the same as or similar to the configurations of the first embodiment. The core unit 150 of the present embodiment will now be described by referring to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a plan view of an example of the core unit 150 according to the present embodiment. The arrows illustrated in FIG. 9 indicate coolant flows.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the core unit 150 of the present embodiment includes a flow inlet 152, a flow outlet 154, and a coolant pathway 156. The coolant flows into the core unit 150 through the flow inlet 152. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the coolant flows in a direction perpendicular to the drawing sheet (e.g., downward) to enter the flow inlet 152. The coolant flows out of the core unit 150 through the flow outlet 154. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the coolant flows in a direction perpendicular to the drawing sheet (e.g., upward) upon exiting from the flow outlet 154.

The coolant pathway 156 of the present embodiment has a spiral shape. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the flow inlet 152 is in communication with an outermost end of the coolant pathway 156. Further, the flow outlet 154 is in communication with an innermost end of the coolant pathway 156.

With this arrangement, the coolant entering the core unit 150 via the flow inlet 152 flows from the outermost end of the coolant pathway 156 toward an inner side through the spiral-shape coolant pathway 156. The coolant then passes through the innermost end of the coolant pathway 156 and the flow outlet 154 to flow out of the core unit 150.

Similarly to the first embodiment, the axial flow fan 140 and the core unit 150 are disposed such that the rotation axis 144 of the axial flow fan 140 is aligned with the center area of the core unit 150. In the radiator 130 of the present embodiment, also, the coolant pathway 156 is disposed in a spiral shape in the core unit 150 such that the coolant flows from the outer area in which air current speed is faster to the inner area in which air current speed is slower. The outer area is at a distance in the radial direction from the rotation axis 144 and the inner area is in the proximity of the rotation axis 144. With this arrangement, the coolant having an increased temperature by absorbing heat from the electronic component 110 first flows through the coolant pathway 156 that is disposed in the outer area of the core unit 150 in which air current speed is faster. This improves the cooling efficiency of coolant.

According to the disclosed radiator, cooling efficiency is improved.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiment(s) of the present inventions have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A radiator comprising a core unit, the core unit comprising: a flow inlet which coolant enters; a flow outlet from which the coolant exits; a plurality of coolant pathways including at least an outer coolant pathway, an inner coolant pathway, a branching point, and a merging point, the outer coolant pathway being disposed to surround the inner coolant pathway, the coolant being divided at the branching point and merging at the merging point; and a connecting pathway to connect between the merging point of the outer coolant pathway and the branching point of the inner coolant pathway, wherein the flow inlet is in communication with a branching point of an outermost one of the plurality of coolant pathways, and the flow output is in communication with a merging point of an innermost one of the plurality of coolant pathways.
 2. The radiator as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the coolant pathways is rectangular, and a branching point and a merging point of a given coolant pathway are situated at corners of the given coolant pathway.
 3. The radiator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the core unit further includes heat dissipating fins disposed between the outer coolant pathway and the inner coolant pathway.
 4. The radiator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an axial flow fan whose rotation axis is aligned with a central area of the core unit.
 5. The radiator as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: one or more core units, each of which is identical to the core unit, the one or more core units and the core unit being arranged side by side; and one or more axial flow fans, each of which is identical the axial flow fan, the one or more axial flow fans and the axial flow fan being arranged side by side to air-cool the one or more core units and the core unit, respectively.
 6. The radiator as claimed in claim 4, further comprising one or more core units, each of which is identical to the core unit, the one or more core units and the core unit being arranged in tandem in a direction of air flow generated by the axial flow fan.
 7. The radiator as claimed in claim 4, further comprising one or more core units, each of which is identical to the core unit, the one or more core units and the core unit being arranged in tandem in a direction of air flow generated by the axial flow fan, the axial flow fan being disposed between two adjacent core units.
 8. An electronic apparatus, comprising: an electronic component to generate heat; and the radiator of claim
 1. 9. A radiator comprising a core unit, the core unit comprising: a flow inlet which coolant enters; a flow outlet from which the coolant exits; and a spiral-shape coolant pathway through which the coolant flows, wherein the flow inlet is in communication with an outer end of the coolant pathway, and the flow outlet is in communication with an inner end of the coolant pathway. 